The Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the proposed One Nation, One Election framework said its two-day consultations in Goa drew broad support from stakeholders, with most suggestions focusing on procedural safeguards needed to strengthen the electoral system before any constitutional changes are implemented.
Addressing a press conference after the consultations concluded on Saturday, Committee Chairman P.P. Chaudhary said discussions with legislators, government officials, industry representatives, academics, legal experts, civil society organisations and members of the media produced constructive recommendations that would help refine the committee’s report before it is submitted to Parliament.
Chaudhary said India remains in what he described as a near-continuous election cycle, with Assembly elections taking place across different states almost every year. According to him, the repeated polls disrupt governance, education, economic activity and public expenditure.
Referring to Goa and other tourism-dependent states, he said elections held during peak tourist seasons result in economic losses, while industries also experience production disruptions because of labour migration during election periods.
He said studies and consultations examined by the committee indicate that holding Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections together could generate savings of nearly ₹7 lakh crore. According to him, those resources could instead be directed towards infrastructure, welfare programmes and long-term development.
Committee rejects concerns over federalism
Responding to concerns that simultaneous elections could weaken India’s federal structure or disadvantage regional political parties, Chaudhary said the proposal seeks only to synchronise election schedules and does not alter the constitutional distribution of powers between the Union and the states.
He said India’s electoral history demonstrates that voters are capable of making separate choices for Parliament and State Assemblies even when elections are conducted simultaneously.
“The committee has consulted former Chief Justices of India, former Supreme Court judges, constitutional experts and senior legal practitioners, whose views indicate that the proposed framework is consistent with the Constitution and does not violate its federal or democratic character,” Chaudhary said.
He added that the committee is also examining safeguards to maintain political stability after synchronisation. These include provisions relating to anti-defection laws, constructive votes of no confidence and constitutional mechanisms to preserve the common election cycle if a legislature is dissolved before completing its term.
According to Chaudhary, the committee’s objective is to create a constitutional framework that promotes uninterrupted governance, reduces recurring election expenditure and strengthens democratic institutions over the long term.
The parliamentary panel has already completed consultations in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat and Goa. Its next round of stakeholder consultations is scheduled to be held in Uttar Pradesh.
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